Bail denied for Naperville woman held on NJ indictment

May 28, 2010

A judge on Thursday refused to set bail for a woman accused in New Jersey of stealing identities to obtain more than $1 million in mortgages, loans and personal items who was arrested in Naperville and is being held in the Will County jail.

Yu Chen, 43, who also goes by the name of Hailin Yang, was indicted in New Jersey in 2009, but has been living in Naperville in a house she apparently owns in the 3800 block of Mistflower Lane.

She was arrested more than a week ago but Naperville police have declined to provide any information on the case, saying it is still under investigation.

Chen and another person allegedly led a conspiracy that involved two others, who now are in China, and extended from 2004 until mid-2007. The New Jersey attorney general's office charged her with conspiracy, theft by deception, identity theft and money laundering.

The 17-count indictment alleged Chen and a co-conspirator used stolen identities to open accounts to buy jewelry, toys and ponies, and to pay a spiritual adviser.

The four named in the indictment allegedly obtained seven mortgages totaling $850,000 and defrauded 13 banks in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York into giving them $300,000 in loans and credit.

Lee Moore, a spokesman for the attorney general, said the victims initially indicated they wanted to apply for a mortgage or did apply and supplied the necessary personal information to Chen and her accomplice who worked in the mortgage loan industry in the Bergen County, N.J. area.

The identities later were stolen and used for other purposes, he said.

The indictment was returned in late June of 2009. Moore said Chen already had left her last known address in Philadelphia. It is not clear why she may have come to Naperville.

She was arrested in the 2800 block of Book Road near 95th Street on May 19. She appeared in court Thursday and was ordered held without bond in the Will County Adult Detention Facility pending her return to New Jersey.

Police records listed Chen's address on Mistflower Lane. Will County property records indicate she owns the property under the name of Hailin Yang with another individual. Hailin Yang was an alias the indictment said Chen used in New Jersey.

Chen and her co-owner were granted a quit claim deed for the property on Sept. 22, 2009, according to records.

Most of the charges she faces in New Jersey are second-degree, with a penalty of five to 10 years in prison and fines of $150,000 to $500,000 per offense.

Chen is due in Will County Court for a status hearing June 3 unless she's been returned to New Jersey.